Fluid pump having a simplified structure

ABSTRACT

A fluid pump includes a housing having a sealed interior space, at least one drive gear mounted in the interior space of the housing for driving a fluid, a first magnetically inductive member coupled to the drive gear, a driving member mounted outside the housing; and a second magnetically inductive member driven by the driving member and located corresponding to the first magnetically inductive member. At least one of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material to provide a magnetic force for mutual attraction therebetween. When the second magnetically inductive member is driven by the driving member, the first magnetically inductive member and the drive gear are turned to drive the fluid through indirect magnetic induction provided by the second magnetically inductive member outside the housing. Leakage of fluid is avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fluid pump, and more particularly to a fluid pump having a simplified structure for avoiding fluid leakage.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional fluid pump comprising a housing 10, a drive gear 20, a driven gear 30, and a driving member 40. The housing 10 receives the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 that mesh with each other. A lid 11 covers the housing 10. An inlet pipe 101 is connected to a first side of the housing 10 in a location adjacent to a joining area between the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30. An outlet pipe 102 is connected to a second side of the housing 10 in a location opposite to the inlet pipe 101. The driving member 40 includes a shaft 41 extending through the housing 10 and a center of the drive gear 20. The driven gear 30 is extended through by a shaft 31 that is mounted to a seat (not shown) in the lid 11.

In operation, the inlet pipe 101 and the outlet pipe 102 are coupled to a fluid-cooling type heat-dissipating module (not shown). Fluid is input via the inlet pipe 101. The driving member 40 drives the drive gear 20 to turn (e.g., counterclockwise) through the shaft 41, which, in turn, drives the driven gear 30 to turn (e.g., clockwise) simultaneously. The teeth of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 cause the fluid to flow along an inner perimeter of the housing 10 and then be output via the outlet pipe 102. Thus, the fluid can be fed to an object (such as a central processing chip of a computer) to be dissipated for heat-dissipating purposes.

However, the housing 10 must include a hole (not shown) to allow the shaft 41 of the driving member 40 to extend therethrough for engaging with the drive gear 20, which hole results in a risk of leakage of the fluid via a gap between a circumference of the shaft 41 and a circumferential wall delimiting the hole of the housing 10. Even though gaskets are mounted on both sides of the hole of the housing 10, the leakage problem could not be completely solved. Further, the fluid pump, when used for dissipating heat inside a computer, operates in a high-temperature environment such that the hole of the housing 10, the shaft 41, and the gaskets expand and shrink in response to a change in the temperature. The housing 10, the shaft 41, and the gaskets are thus apt to oxidize, deform, and deteriorate. As a result, the size of the gap between the shaft 41 and the circumferential wall delimiting the hole of the housing 10 increases, aggregating the leakage problem and leading to rusting, short circuit, and damage to the fluid pump, the heat-dissipating model, and the object.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pump for avoiding fluid leakage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pump with improved operational reliability.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pump having a prolonged life.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pump with improved driving efficiency with magnetic induction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fluid pump in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing including a sealed interior space, at least one drive gear mounted in the interior space of the housing for driving a fluid, a first magnetically inductive member coupled to the drive gear, a driving member mounted outside the housing; and a second magnetically inductive member driven by the driving member and located corresponding to the first magnetically inductive member.

At least one of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material to provide a magnetic force for mutual attraction therebetween. When the second magnetically inductive member is driven by the driving member, the first magnetically inductive member and the drive gear are turned to drive the fluid through indirect magnetic induction provided by the second magnetically inductive member outside the housing.

The fluid pump may further comprise an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected to the housing and in communication with the interior space of the housing. The inlet pipe allows input of the fluid into the interior space of the housing and the outlet pipe allows output of the fluid out of the housing.

The second magnetically inductive member and the driving member are concentric with or eccentric to the first magnetically inductive member and the drive gear.

Preferably, the housing comprises a lid mounted thereto for defining the sealed interior space.

Preferably, each of the housing and the lid comprises a shaft seat. The drive gear comprises a shaft that is rotatably coupled to the shaft seat of the housing and the shaft seat of the lid.

Preferably, the drive gear comprises a recessed portion surrounding the shaft of the drive gear for securely receiving the first magnetically inductive member.

Preferably, the lid comprises a recessed portion for rotatably receiving the second magnetically inductive member.

Preferably, the lid comprises another recessed portion for receiving a circuit board.

The fluid pump may further comprise at least one driven gear rotatably mounted in the interior space of the housing and meshed with the drive gear.

In an embodiment of the invention, both of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member are made of magnetic material.

Preferably, each of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member comprises a plurality of north pole sections and a plurality of south pole sections. A number of the north pole sections and the south pole sections of the first magnetically inductive member is equal to, greater than, or smaller than that of the north pole sections and the south pole sections of the second magnetically inductive member.

In an alternative arrangement, the first magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetically inductive material.

In another alternative arrangement, the first magnetically inductive member is made of magnetically inductive material and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material.

Preferably, the first magnetically conductive member further comprises an insulating layer to avoid rusting.

Preferably, the driving member comprises a plurality of mounting members for fixing the driving member to an outside of the housing.

The- driving member may be an internal rotor motor or an external rotor motor.

The driving member may further comprise a rotor to which the second magnetically inductive member is coupled.

Preferably, the rotor of the driving member is a disc or an external rotor housing.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a conventional fluid pump;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a first embodiment of a fluid pump in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the fluid pump in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a second embodiment of the fluid pump in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the fluid pump in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly exploded, of a third embodiment of the fluid pump in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the fluid pump in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a fluid pump in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 10, at least one drive gear 20, at least one driven gear 30, and a driving member 40. The fluid pump may drive a fluid to flow. For example, the fluid pump can be coupled with a fluid-cooling type heat-dissipating module (not shown) and drive a fluid to flow in a circulating way for dissipating an object (such as a central processing chip of a computer). The fluid pump can be used in other fluid mechanisms and operated in a similar way.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 10 is of an appropriate shape such as elliptic. The housing 10 includes an interior space 100, a first shaft seat 103, and a second shaft seat 104. A lid 11 and a washer (or gasket) 12 are mounted to cover and seal the housing 10. The drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 are mounted in the interior space 100. An inlet pipe 101 and an outlet pipe 102 are mounted to opposite sides of the housing 10 at locations adjacent to a joint area between the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30. Fluid enters the housing 10 via the inlet pipe 101 and exits the housing 10 via the outlet pipe 102.

The lid 11 is preferably made of magnetically insulating material or non-metallic material. The lid 11 comprises a first shaft seat 111, a second shaft seat 112, a first groove 113, and a second groove 114. The first shaft seat 103 of the housing 10, the first shaft seat 111 of the lid 11, and the first groove 113 are in association with the drive gear 20 whereas the second shaft seat 104 of the housing 10, the second shaft seat 112 of the lid 11, and the second groove 114 are in association with the driven gear 30.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 mesh with each other and are rotatably received in the interior space 100 of the housing 10. Each of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 includes a plurality of teeth (not labeled) on a circumference thereof.

The drive gear 20 comprises a shaft 21, a recessed portion 22 in a side thereof and surrounding the shaft 21, and a first magnetically inductive member 23 fixed in the recessed portion 22 by, e.g., gluing, welding, snapping, screwing, or other suitable means.

The first magnetically inductive member 23 is a circular, rectangular, or sectorial plate and made of magnetic material or magnetically conductive material. In a case that the first magnetically inductive member 23 is a magnet, the first magnetically inductive member 23 includes a plurality of north pole sections N and a plurality of south pole sections S, such as eight (8) north pole sections N and eight (8) south pole sections S. The driven gear 30 includes a shaft 31 that is rotatably coupled to the second shaft seat 104 of the housing 10 and the second shaft seat 112 of the lid 11. Preferably, the first magnetically inductive member 23 is covered by an insulating layer (not shown) to prevent from rusting resulting from long-term immersion in the fluid. The insulating layer is provided by application or injection molding to cover the first magnetically inductive member 23.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the driving member 40 of this embodiment is preferably a motor such as an internal rotor motor or an external rotor motor. The. driving member 40 comprises a plurality of mounting members 401, a shaft 41, a rotor 42, and a second magnetically inductive element 43. The mounting members 401 are fixed to the lid 11 by gluing, welding, snapping, or screwing, with the driving member 40 and the drive gear 20 being concentrically disposed.

The driving member 40 drives the shaft 41 to turn, which, in turn, turns the rotor 42. The rotor 42 may be a disc or an external rotor housing. The second magnetically inductive member 43 is fixed on the rotor 42 by gluing, welding, snapping, or screwing. The rotor 42 and the second magnetically inductive member 43 are rotatably received in the first groove 113 of the lid 11.

The second magnetically inductive member 43 is a circular, rectangular, or sectorial plate and made of magnetic material or magnetically conductive material. In a case that the second magnetically inductive member 43 is a magnet, the second magnetically inductive member 43 includes a plurality of north pole sections N and a plurality of south pole sections S, such as eight (8) north pole sections N and eight (8) south pole sections S. At lease one of the first magnetically inductive member 23 and the second magnetically inductive member 43 is magnetic to provide a power source for magnetic driving, allowing the first magnetically inductive member 23 and the second magnetically inductive member 43 to attract each other via magnetic force.

The driving member 40 may further comprise a circuit board (not shown) that is received in, e.g., the second groove 114 of the lid 11. Alternatively, the second magnetically inductive member 43 can be directly coupled with the shaft 41 of the driving member 40 to omit the rotor 42.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in operation, the driving member 40 is empowered to drive the rotor 42 and the second magnetically inductive member 43 via the shaft 41. Since the second magnetically inductive member 43 is concentric with the first magnetically inductive member 23 of the drive gear 20, magnetic induction occurs to the first magnetically inductive member 23 when the second magnetically inductive member 43 turns, resulting in movements of the north pole sections N and the south pole sections S of the magnetically inductive member 43. Hence, the first magnetically inductive member 23 and the drive gear 20 are turned (e.g., counterclockwise, see the arrow in FIG. 2). Meanwhile, the drive gear 20 drives the driven gear 30 to turn clockwise (see the arrow in FIG. 2). Fluid from the inlet pipe 101 is carried by the teeth on the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 to flow along an inner perimeter of the housing 10 and then output via the outlet pipe 102.

By arrangement of the first and second magnetically inductive members 23 and 43, the driving member 40 outside the housing 10 can drive the drive gear 20 inside the housing 10 without the need of extending the shaft 41 of the driving member 40 through the first shaft seat 111 of the lid 11. Leakage of fluid is avoided. Thus, the sealing reliability between the housing 10 and the lid 11 is improved. The sealing effect and operational reliability of the fluid pump are improved and the life of the fluid pump is prolonged.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the fluid pump in accordance with the present invention, wherein the second magnetically inductive member 43 of the driving member 40 is eccentric to the first magnetically inductive member 23 of the drive gear 20. In a case that both of the first magnetically inductive member 23 and the second magnetically inductive member 43 are magnets, the number of the north pole sections N and south pole sections S of the first magnetically inductive member 23 may be different from that of the north pole sections N and south pole sections S of the second magnetically inductive member 43. Further, the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 may differ in size and in the number of teeth. For example, the size of the driven gear 30 may be larger than that of the drive gear 20 and the number of the teeth of the driven gear 30 may be greater than that of the drive gear 20, and vice versa. The number of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 may vary according to need.

When the north pole sections N and the south pole sections S rotate, indirect magnetic induction occurs to the first magnetically inductive member 23 for driving the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30, thereby delivering the fluid. Similarly, the sealing effect and operational reliability of the fluid pump are improved and the life of the fluid pump is prolonged.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the fluid pump in accordance with the present invention, wherein the second magnetically inductive member 43 of the driving member 40 is a magnet with a plurality of north pole sections N and a plurality of south pole sections S whereas the first magnetically inductive member 23 of the drive gear 20 is a magnetically conductive plate such as an iron plate. The size of the first magnetically inductive member 23 is apparently smaller than that of the second magnetically inductive member 43 and preferably equal to or smaller than that of the north pole sections N and the south pole sections S of the second magnetically inductive member 43. The drive gear 20 is turned by the driving member 40 through use of the first and second magnetically inductive members 23 and 43. The interior space 100 of the housing 10 is designed to receive only the drive gear 20, as the driven gear 30 is omitted. The structure of the fluid pump is thus simplified. Rotation of the drive gear 20 is sufficient to deliver the fluid from the inlet pipe 101 side to the outlet pipe 102 side.

While the principles of this invention have been disclosed in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the appended claims. 

1. A fluid pump comprising: a housing comprising a sealed interior space; at least one drive gear mounted in the interior space of the housing for driving a fluid; a first magnetically inductive member coupled to the drive gear; a driving member mounted outside the housing; and a second magnetically inductive member driven by the driving member and located corresponding to the first magnetically inductive member; at least one of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member being made of magnetic material to provide a magnetic force for mutual attraction therebetween such that when the second magnetically inductive member is driven by the driving member, the first magnetically inductive member and the drive gear are turned to drive the fluid through indirect magnetic induction provided by the second magnetically inductive member outside the housing.
 2. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connected to the housing and in communication with the interior space of the housing, the inlet pipe allowing input of the fluid into the interior space of the housing, and the outlet pipe allowing output of the fluid carried by the drive gear out of the housing.
 3. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second magnetically inductive member and the driving member are concentric with or eccentric to the first magnetically inductive member and the drive gear.
 4. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a lid mounted thereto for defining the sealed interior space.
 5. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the housing and the lid comprises a shaft seat, the drive gear comprising a shaft that is rotatably coupled to the shaft seat of the housing and the shaft seat of the lid.
 6. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drive gear comprises a recessed portion surrounding the shaft of the drive gear for securely receiving the first magnetically inductive member.
 7. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a recessed portion for rotatably receiving the second magnetically inductive member.
 8. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a recessed portion for receiving a circuit board.
 9. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one driven gear rotatably mounted in the interior space of the housing and meshed with the drive gear.
 10. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member are made of magnetic material.
 11. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the first magnetically inductive member and the second magnetically inductive member comprises a plurality of north pole sections and a plurality of south pole sections, a number of the north pole sections and the south pole sections of the first magnetically inductive member being equal to, greater than, or smaller than that of the north pole sections and the south pole sections of the second magnetically inductive member.
 12. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetically inductive material.
 13. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetically inductive member is made of magnetically inductive material and the second magnetically inductive member is made of magnetic material.
 14. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetically conductive member further comprises an insulating layer to avoid rusting.
 15. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving member comprises a plurality of mounting members for fixing the driving member to an outside of the housing.
 16. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving member is an internal rotor motor or an external rotor motor.
 17. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving member further comprises a rotor and wherein the second magnetically inductive member is coupled to the rotor.
 18. The fluid pump as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rotor of the driving member is a disc or an external rotor housing. 